HARWITH BANK

SUMMERBRIDGE, HARROGATE

It’s best to start this climb at the junction of the B6165 and B6451 in Summerbridge, but to add a few more metres elevation you could begin the ascent down in Dacre Banks, heading away from the River Nidd. From the first bend, and for the entirety of the first half of the climb, it’s an out of the saddle, wishing it would end, lung-busting effort. This is no surprise really – if you look at the Ordnance Survey map you’ll see there are four gradient arrows on this stretch. Rising hard up and out of the village, the road becomes even steeper into the woods, the narrow path swaying left and right in the darkness under the shelter of trees. It’s an eternity until you see a light at the end of the tunnel and a possible lessening of the slope. Yes the sky opens, but unfortunately the climb remains remorselessly steep for just that little bit longer. Eventually it abates, allowing you to pedal out the second half up to the T-junction.